SPECTACULAR PHOTO DAY AT BLOWING ROCKS NATURE PRESERVE

Blowing Rocks Florida
Atlantic swells explode into the Anastasia rock cliffs of Blowing Rocks Nature Preserve, Jupiter Island Florida.

Blowing Rocks Nature Preserve on Jupiter Island Florida is an unforgettably beautiful stretch of coast donated by residents of Jupiter Island to The Nature Conservancy.  When Atlantic cold fronts or distant hurricanes generate large ground swells, the crashing waves send plumes of spray as high as twenty five feet through holes in the Anastasia Limestone. A “super moon” combined with a hurricane swell on September 12, 2021 created a “gesyer” spectacle of a magnitude not seen in many years!  Blowing Rocks features the largest outcropping of Anastasia or Coquina (as the Spaniards originally named) on Florida’s east coast and provides landscape photographers a distinctive variation on the typically flat Florida barrier island.  What’s more, vegetation and wildflowers such as Sea Oats, Sea Purslane, Dune Sunflowers, Palmetto Palms and Sea Grapes frame the spectacular rocks and beach–making wonderful photographic foregrounds!

Blowing Rocks 
Jupiter Island
Waves Spray Flumes
With two and one half miles of Anastasia Rock shoreline, Blowing Rocks Nature Preserve on Jupiter Island is like no other beach in the State of Florida. During periods of high tide and a strong swell, the entire length of beach erupts with dozens of “geysers”.
Blowing Rocks Beach Florida
A long exposure of 1/20 of a second helps illustrate the motion and power of the sea waves. The use of a 10-stop neutral density filter makes it possible– even in the bright sunshine of mid-morning– to open the camera’s shutter for this effect which gives the spray a smooth ethereal glow. This capture, entitled “Double Fountains” is available as a limited edition print in either color or black and white printed with archival inks on archival paper.

Blowing Rocks Jupiter Island
Ignition, compression, eruption! A deep ocean swell fills the chambers in the Anastasia rock and powers three towering plumes of spray. This unique panorama is offered as a 24″ X 48″ limited edition print entitled “Triple Fountains”

Photography Notes: Nikon Z7ii, Tripod, 10-stop neutral density filter, exposures ranging from 1/20 of a second to 3 seconds, Lens cleaning spray bottle, microfiber clothe, plastic cover to protect camera from salt spray! Processing: Lightroom Black and White Conversion

Blowing Rocks Preserve Location Workshop is included in Bob Gibson’s “Photographing Jupiter Florida” 8-week course beginning Wednesday, January 11 at Lighthouse ArtCenter Gallery and School of Art. in Tequesta, Florida. For details, go to https://lighthousearts.org/our-classes/adult-classes/photography/